The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-11
A FAMILY EXTERaIlNATOR.
Eclipsing the Record ofJones, OF Edge
field-A Wholesale Murder near
Macon.

MACON, GA, August G.-1nformation
has inst been received of most horrible
tragedy occurring last night about
twelve miles from here in this county.
The report says that Capt. Richard
voolfolk. a weli-known farmer, his wife.
four children and Mrs. West, an aunt OF
Mrs. Voolfolk, were found murdered in
the house this morning, having been
knocked in the head and their throats
cut. Tom G.. Voolfolk, 4 son OF Capt.
Voolfolk by his first wife, is suspected
of the crime and was arrested. A dep
uty sheriff and the coroner went out TO
the scene of the murder. Owing to the
distance from the city, full particulars
cannot be had just now.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE BUTCHERY.
MACON, GA, August G.-Midnight.-
T ater and fuller details from the scene
of the tragedy develop the fact that there
we're nine victims instead OF seven. as at
first reported. Capt. and Mrs. K. F.
Voolfolk, their six children, ranging in
ages frorI is months to 20 years, and
Mrs. West, an aunt OF Mrs. Voolfolk,
aged 50. The coroner's jury found
verdict of murder against Thos. u.
Voolfolk, son of the captains first
wife, who. was sleeping in the house.
His statement was that sometime before
daybreak he was aroused by groansand
the sound of blows proceeded froms his
parent's room. His half brother Rich
ard ran into the room which adioins his,
and thinking that murder was being
committed he CThomas) jumped from the
window in his night clothes and bare
feet and ran to the house Of a negro
three or four hundred yards distant to
get them to arouse the neighborhood.
lie saws he was afraid to return, fearing
that he himself would be murdered, but
went back after half an hour. No help
had arrived and he went i'll to see II the
family had been murdered. He found
them all dead. He stepped in pool OF
blood in passing and left the footprints
on the floor. He found his step mother
living so tn It her head was on the floor
and her body on the bed. He raised her
up and placed her on the bed. He thA..' I
changed his clothin" nJ tiiis tl'iie
crow1 had o. arrived and soon after he w
49, taken into custody.
. The evidence before the jury was ci
:" cumstantial throughout. The CROW
- then continued to grow in size and inc
W cations pointed strongly to a lynchin
- Sheriff Westcott told the jury to wit
~ hold their verdict until he could get Il
prisoner away and then making all a
rangemerts, slipped Voolfolk out of Il
house il a hurry and drove away so ra
idly that the crowd had hardly time
realize the departure. The prisoner W
- brought to Macon and safely lodged
81 Jail where he talked of the crime-cooll
4 but made no admissions. His motive
lie it is said, are the desire to gain posse
sion Of his fathers property for himSe
v and two sisters, children OF the fl st wifi
: BURIAL OF TIE NINE VICTIMS OF TT
A MURDER.
II MACON, GA. August THE flner
/, Of the nine victims of Those. Woolfo
|, took place at Race Hill Cemetery,
'r presence Of three thousand people. III
n services were bi ought to an abrupt te
e mination by the arrival of Mrs. Edward
y own sister OF the murderer, who was
is Athens at the time of the murde
n Heartrending scenes followed, bringir
tears to the eyes of every spectato
/ Voolfolk was carried to Atlanta ear
t. this morning for safe keeping. He col
= tinueS to deny his guilt.